Amusement device



Agg. 29, 1939. wHlTELEY .2,170,935

` AMUSEMENT DEVICEy Filed' Feb. 18, 193s Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement devices, and has special reference to amusement devices for use at carnivals and amusement resorts, etc.

Objects of the invention are to provide an amusement device comprising a cylinder supported for rotation about an approximately horizontal axis and having therein several partitions provided with disalined openings through which customers may pass by keeping step with t-he rotation of the cylinder; and to provide means constituting a chute for conducting or discharging customers `onto the surface of the rotating cylinder, and thence to a stationary chute from which the customers may leave the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved amusement device comprising a rotary cylinder supported for rotation by rotative means and having therein various partitions provided with disalined openings or doors through which the customers may travel from one end of the cylinder to the other provided they keep step with the rotation of the cylinder.

Other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the cylinder having therein the disalined openings or doors through which the customers must pass from one space to another.

The invention as illustrated comprises a cylinder l supported for rotation about an appro-Ximately horizontal axis by mechanism including rollers 2 attached to shafts 3. These shafts 3 are rotated by conventional and well-known mechanism whereby the cylinder I is rotated by said rollers in the direction of the arrow 4 (Fig. 1). The general construction, mounting and mode of rotation of the cylinder I is now familiar in the art.

My invention comprises the inclusion in the cylinder i of a number of partitions 5, 6 and 1, of which only three are shown but the number of which may easily be varied as desired without departure from the invention.

The partition 5 includes a gate or door providing an opening 8 disalined circumferentially from a gate or opening 9 in the partition 6, which also is disalined circumferentially from a gate or inder I, the customer should keep step with the rotation of said cylinder I until the gate or door 8 which rotates with the cylinder I is in vertical position to permit the customer to pass therethrough and into the space between the partitions 5 and 6; and, likewise, by keeping step with the rotation of the cylinder I in tread-mill manner, to pass through the gate or door 9 into the space between the partitions 6 and l, and, in like manner, to await until the gate or door Ill is in position to permit the customer to pass therethrough beyond the partition 1, etc.

In these particulars, my invention distinguishes from preceding mechanisms by including the partitions 5, 6, 1, etc. with their disalined gates or doors 8, 9, IU, etc., so that the difficulty and amusement afforded to a customer, and observers, while the customer passes from one end of the rotating cylinder I to the other end thereof, are emphasized.

My invention also includes a chute or passage comprising an inclined series of rollers Il mounted for rotation about horizontal axes I2 journalled for rotation in stationary supports, as shown. This series of rollers is arranged adjacent to one or more platforms I3 so that customers may easily pass from said platforms I3 and seat or recline upon the inclined series of rollers II. The inclined series of rollers II, as shown, incline toward and in the direction of rotation of the cylinder I, as indicated by the arrow 4; so that any customer seating or reclining upon the rollers II will necessarily move toward the surface of the rotating cylinder l and in the direction of the arrow 4 along the surface of the cylinder I onto a fixed chute I4.

The chute I4 is in alinement with the rollers I I so that the customer being discharged by and along with the rotating surface of the cylinder I moves onto the chute I4 which has a smooth surface, and is discharged from the lower end `of said chute I4.

Thus, the amusement apparatus affords means for passing from a surface I5 into and through the cylinder I and through the gates or doors 8, 9, IU, etc. and from the opposite end of the cylinder I. Naturally and as is understood, a passage may be provided (not shown) requiring the customer to mount one of the platforms I3 in order to leave the room in which the device is mounted; so that the customer must seat or recline upon the rollers II and be discharged therefrom onto the rotating surface of the cylinder I in the direction of the arrow 4, and thence onto and from the chute I4.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this nvention is of a. highly simplified construction and arrangement, and that it attains its objects and purposes eiciently and satisfactorily. The invention may be manufactured and installed and operated Within permissible costs.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a cylinder having a greater diameter than the height of the users, supported for rotation about an approximately horizontal axis and forming a passage for the users, and a series of diametrical partitions attached in spaced relationship Within the cylinder and each having a door opening disalined from the door openings of adjacent partitions,

the interior of the cylinder being otherwise unobstructed in every direction.

2. An amusement device comprising a cylinder of large diameter and forming a passage for the users, means for supporting said cylinder for rotation about a horizontal axis, and a plurality of diametrical partitions attached within said cylinder and separated from each other by intervening spaces and each of said partitions having a door opening therethrough disalined from the door opening of any adjacent partition, the interior of the cylinder being otherwise unobstructed in every direction.

JAMES WHITELEY. 

